Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

The following summary provides a comprehensive analysis of the Republican National Committee during the 1956 election year. The research project describes the Committee as a changing, dynamic organization that expands significantly during campaign seasons to direct the national effort for the presidency. While the formal party structure is often viewed as a hierarchy ranging from local precincts to the national level, the document explains that it functions more as a coalition where the National Chairman serves as the executive head. During the 1956 campaign, the headquarters staff grew from a baseline of 100 employees to approximately 250 paid workers, supplemented by 500 volunteers. 

The text details the specific responsibilities of various internal divisions, including Finance, Public Relations, and Campaign Activities. The Finance Division is highlighted for its efforts to broaden the party’s financial base through programs like the woman-led house-to-house fundraising drive. The Minorities Division focused heavily on the Negro vote, emphasizing civil rights gains made under the Eisenhower administration to successfully shift voting patterns in several states. Additionally, the Women's Division and the National Federation of Republican Women played critical roles in mobilizing female voters through educational conferences and the Tele-Friend telephone chain. 

The Campaign Division, led by Robert Humphreys, operated on principles of coordination and persuasion rather than the traditional use of patronage. This division was responsible for generating political slogans and managing the 1956 campaign plan, which was presented directly to President Eisenhower. Supporting these efforts, the Research Division maintained a specialized library and provided the factual background material necessary for speeches and press releases. Ultimately, the study concludes that while the National Committee has little formal authority over state organizations, it provides the essential national leadership and unity required to influence the electorate effectively.

Research Highlights

  • The Problem: Descriptive analysis of the Republican National Committee's (RNC) organizational structure, internal transitions, and strategic functions during the 1956 presidential election year. 

  • The Method: Qualitative research involving personal interviews with RNC officials, analysis of 1956 news releases, examination of the official RNC organization chart, and review of party publications and correspondence. 

  •  Quantitative Finding: The RNC staff expanded from a 100-person interim size to 250 paid employees and 500 volunteers during the campaign; the 1956 Republican campaign received $10,134,000 in contributions between September 1 and October 21; the "Straight from the Shoulder" party paper reached over 300,000 workers. 

  • Qualitative Finding: The National Committee functions as a "coalition" rather than a strict hierarchy, with the National Chairman serving as the executive "kingpin"; the 1956 strategy focused on civil rights to secure the Negro vote, the "Tele-Friend" telephone chain to mobilize women, and the "Republican Recruits" program to integrate youth aged 21 to 30 into party leadership.

Publication Date

Fall 1956

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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